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Is it utterly gauche to wear your high school letter jacket at college?

We were out and about and saw a young man from the high school class of '02 in his letter jacket. Our family split along gender lines when discussing the issue. The females think that one should not wear one's HS letter jacket after high school (unless coming back for Homecoming); the males' attitude, "It's a warm coat; why not wear it?"

Is it totally gauche to wear your HS letter jacket in college? (Same way with HS class ring?)

On the subject of letter jackets, at my kids' HS school so many people wear them...kids can earn letters not just for sports, but drill team, choir, band, cheer, academics...Back in the day, we only had boys sports and only male athletes had letter jackets. I'm very glad to see that has changed.

I think there is a difference. Lots of alums wear their college gear-some even buy cars in their college colors, wear their college ring forever, etc. I don't see people doing the same with high school.

Letter jackets are rare because of our climate (Florida)- kids aren't really interested. Rings, however, were a big deal at our high school- they had a big ceremony and all the kids filed up to the front of the auditorium to get their rings. Those that didn't buy a ring got a cheap trinket in a box. Son didn't want the ring- he asked if we'd give him the money instead. We did, and he put it toward a new guitar. He brought the guitar to college with him.

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